Ore-separating process.



UN TED STATES PATENT oFFrcE.

MARCUS RUTHENBURG, OF LOCKPORT, NEW YORK.

No Drawing. Application filed January 6, 1908,

To all whom it may concern; I

Be it known that I,.MARoUs RUTHEN- nuns, of Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementfin ()re- Separating Processes, whereof the following is a specification.

My improved process is adapted for the gravitative separation of hydrofuge ores and concentrates which will not gravitate in water. For instance, my process is applicable to the various sulfids and arsenids of copper, lead, zinc and iron which when crushed for concentration or separation from the gangue, form powdery slimes which, because of their peculiar surface repulsion, in

' jigging or tabllng with water either remain suspended in the water or float thereon, and in either case, are lost. I

My invention is also applicable to separate the greasy complex or mixed concentrates of the ores of copper, zinc, lead, etc., which are produced by the Elmore processwhich consists in causing the crushed ore to absorb a thick oil and then floating it on a body of water in a vacuum chamber;

My invention is based upon the fact that the hydrofuge slimes of sulfids and arsenids aforesaid; which cannot be compelled, to

gravitate in water are readily wetted by and gravitate in the lighter liquid distillates of petroleum; for instance, naphtha, ben zin, kerosene, parafiin oil, or' other liquid hydrocarbons, and, that the heavy oil residue in said Elmore concentrates, is soluble in said lighter oils, so that, in either case, the

.ore particles are separated by gravitation in such hydrocarbon liquid media, instead of floating thereon or being retained in suspension therein, as in water. Therefore, my process consists in surrounding hydrofltge ore or concentrate with a liquid medium other than water, and particularly a liquid hydrocarbon, in which the comminuted particles of the ore Willtgravitate, so that the separation of the di erent components of the ore is effected by gravitation without Specification of Letters Patent.

' said liquid.

flotation in said liquid. Such separation OBE-SEPABATING' PROCESS.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

Serial No; 409,535. Renewed July 31, 1909. Serial No. 510,681.

may be conveniently eflected on a simple inclined concentrating table, like the Wilfley for instance.

Although I' have described my invention as. applicable to sulfids, arsenids, and concentrates produced by the Elmore process,

it is to be-understood that it is not restricted to such use. a I cla1m.:

1. The described process of separating ore or concentrate'partlcles of'different specific gravity, WhlCll cannot be wetted in water,

which consists in surrounding the same with a non-metallicliquid capable of wetting the surfaces of said particles so that they are separated by gravity without flotation in 2. The described process of separating ore or concentrate particles of different "specific gravity, which cannot be wetted in water, which consists in surrounding the same with an anhydrous non-metallic liquid capable of wetting the surfaces of said particles so that they are se aratcd by gravity Without flotation in said iqnid.

3. The described rocess of separating ore or concentrate particles of difierent'specific gravity, which cannot be wetted in water, which consists in surrounding the same with a liquid hydrocarbon capable of wetting the surfaces of said particles so that they are separated by gravitywithout flotation in said liquid.

4. The described .process of separating ore or concentrate particles of different specific gravity, which cannot be wetted in water, which consists in surrounding the same with ting the surfaces of said particles. so that 'a liquid petroleum distillate capable of wetthey are separated by gravity without fiotation in said liquid.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at London, England, this twentieth day of December, 1907. i MARCUS RUTHENBURG. \Vitnesses H, D. JAMnsoN, F. L. RAND. 

